The Syrian government is locked in a struggle with rebel militia groups in and around the country’s largest city, Aleppo, in some of the most bitter fighting since the four-year-old uprising began in 2011. May was reportedly the bloodiest month since the conflict began, with over 6,000 people killed in fighting across the country.
Residents in the town of Tel Rifaat struggle to dig friends and neighbors from under the rubble after a Syrian government warplane dropped a barrel bomb over a block of flats. Intense government airstrikes were reported over the Aleppo region during the past 72 hours. Other strikes were reported over the rebel-held region of Idlib.
Amateur video also showed Syrian rebel fighters rushing men and armed pickup trucks to defend positions north of Aleppo from Islamic State militants who are attempting to encroach on their territory. IS controls several large suburbs of Aleppo, including Monbaj and al-Bab, and is reportedly trying to capture points along the Turkish border.
Al-Hayat newspaper, quoting the opposition Saraj Press Agency, reported that opposition fighters regained ground from IS militants trying to capture the Azouz border crossing. It said the fighting was accompanied by heavy shelling and intense barrages of Grad rockets.
The U.S. Embassy in Syria’s official Twitter feed accused the Syrian government Tuesday of conducting airstrikes to help Islamic State militants capture territory near Aleppo. Syrian opposition leader Khaled Khoja accused the Syrian government Monday of helping IS gain ground around the oasis town of Palmyra.
The Turkish newspaper Cumhurriyet, however, accused the Turkish intelligence agency last week of sending arms to Islamic State militants in northern Syria. It posted photos of what it claimed was a shipment earlier this year. Refuting the charge, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied Tuesday that his country was helping IS.
Syrian state TV, meanwhile, reported that government warplanes bombed Islamic State militants at the Air Force Academy, near Aleppo, “destroying their armed vehicles.”
Source-VOA
